Ventilating device for water closets



April 29, 1941. H. L. CAROTHERS VENTILATING DEVICE FOR WATER CLOSETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1958 119.14. 1510671157; Harry J. Car-other;

April 29, 1941. H. 1.. CAROTHERS VENTILATING DEVICE FOR WATER CLO SETS Filed Aug. 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fld. 6

FIG. 7 v

INVENTOR. Harry L, Carol/1cm ATTORNEY.

- Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED/STATES PATENT OFFICE vnnma'rme DEVICE roa wa'mn onose'rs mm L. Carothers, Anthony, Kans.

. Application All!!! 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,790

1 Claim. (G1. 4-213) v My invention relates to an improvement in ventilating devices for water closets. The object of the device is to cause a draft of air to flow through the closet bowl and be discharged through a vent pipe that preferably extends upwardly in the wall and through the roof of the building so that noxious odors from the water closet bowl will not be liberated in the room.

ll hese and other objects will be more fully explained as this description progresses.

Now referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a water closet and wall including my invention. This view is shown partly in section for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a front view of the elements shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side view of the upper portion of a water closet showing the installation of the electric switch for controlling the electric motor employed in the device. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the elements shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6'is a sectional view through the switch that is employed in controlling the electric motor employed in the device, the view bein taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a rear view of the device shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electric system employed in the device. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view through the device employed in inducing the draft through the vent pipe and bowl. Fig. 10 is a front view of the elements shown in Fig. 9, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the air jet. Fig. 12 is an end view of the air jet. Fig. 13 is a front view of the vent pipe, showing the opening that receives the air jet. Fig. 14 is a side view of the vent pipe shown in Fi 13. Fig. 15 is a sectional detail view of a modified form of draft inducing device, the view being taken along the line XV-XV in Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is afront view of the cabinet and device shown in Fig. 15.

Similar numerals of reference designate the same part throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings is shown a water closet I1 having the usual bowl I8 that is provided with the usual water pusage l9 around the top thereof, there being a series of openings 20 around the under side of the rim 2| that open into the bowl l8 so as to permit water from the passage l3 to flow down the sides of the bowl l3 to wash it.

At 22 is a water flush pipe connecting between the water passage IS in the water closet and a flush tank 23. These elements are all common articles and are in common use.

My invention comprises a vent pipe 24, that is preferably positioned in the wall 25. The lower end of the vent pipe connects to the flush pipe 22 at the point 223:. The upper end of the vent pipe 24 extends preferably through the roof of the building.

. At 26 is an air jet which is fitted into the vent pipe 24 so that one end of the opening of the jet 26 is turned upwardly in the vent pipe 24. In the outer end of the jet is positioned a fan 21 that is driven by an electric motor 23 that is carried in a housing element 23 that is carried on a base element 30 which is rigidly attached to the wall 25 and in which terminates the large end of the jet 26, the fan and motor being positioned on the center axis of the large opening of the jet 26. The large opening of the jet 26 is larger in diameter than the fan and motor so that air may easily pass by the fan and motor into the jet element 26. The housing 29 is provided with openings 23.1: to admit the passage of air into the jet 26.

At 36 is a conduit pipe carrying wires 3land 32 that feed an electric current to the motor to 7 run the fan. The lower end of the conduit pipe 30 connects to a switch box 33 that is carried on a bracket 34 which carries a seat cover 35 of the water closet H. The seat 35 is carried on a pair of lever arms 36-that are pivotally mounted at 31 on a pair of upwardly extending stud elements 33 that are rigidly mounted on a flange element 2L1: of the water closet. At 33 is a cross bar supported on the studs 36 and on which is rigidly mounted a switch box 33. The outer ends of the lever arms 36 are joined together with a cross bar 36a for reasons that will later be made obvious.

In the box 33 is an electric switch. It will be understood that there are numerous types and designs of electric switches that are applicable to my device and any one of these switches may be used, therefore the switch shown in the drawings is only illustrative of a switch and what it does and how it is operated in connection with my invention. As shown in the drawings the switch comprises an insulation base that is rigidly attached to the top of the box 33, and on the base 40 is a pair of contact points 4| and 42 that normally stand apart as shown. The wire 321s attached to the point 42 and the feed wire 43 is attached to the point 4|. At 44 is a push, rod that is made of insulation material and is slidably mounted in a sleeve element 45 that is formed on the bottom or cover plate 46 of the box 33. The lower end of the push rod 44 is provided with a head element 41. At 48 is a rather stiiI helical spring that is positioned around the push rod 44 and is under compression between the head 47 and the box closure element 48.

The head 41 rests against the bar 35a and the spring 48 exerts enough downward pressure on the bar 36a that the seat element 35 is tilted upwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In Figures and 16 is shown a modified form of the draft inducing device in which is shown a box-like element 49 that is positioned between the lath and plaster a and 25b of the wall. The vent pipe 24 connects to the lower side of the box 45 and continues as vent pipe 24a from the upp r side of the box 49. The box 49 is provided with a door 50 to give access to the box 49. In the box 49 and supported thereby is an electric motor 28a that drives a fan 21a so as to draw a draft of air from the water closet bowl I8 through the water openings 20 and the pipes 22 and 24 and force the draft of air upwardly through the pipe 240. to be discharged at the top thereof. At is the conduit pipe that carries the wires 3| and 32 that carry the electric current to run the motor.

The fans shown in the drawings are propeller 'type fans, but it will be understood that other types of fans such as blower type and the like may be employed and will give equally good results.

The operation of my improved water closet ventilating device is as follows. When a person sits down on the seat 35, the weight of the person will push the seat downwardly until it rests on the rim 2! of the bowl i8. Simultaneously with this action the lever arms 36 and cross bar 38a are rocked upwardly, whereupon the push rod 44 is pushed upwardly against the pressure of the spring 48 and the upper end of the push rod 44 engages the contact point 42 and pushes it upwardly until it engages the contact point 4|, whereupon an electric circuit iscompleted and the motor 28 or 28a is caused to run and induce or force a draft of air upwardly in the vent pipe 24 or 24a.

As shown in Figures 1, 9 and 10, the draft of air is produced as follows. As the motor and fan runs, air is drawn in through the openings 29:: and forced through the upwardly turned L- shaped jet 26 into the vent pipe 24 which causes the air in the vent pipe 24 to move upwardly which tends to create a vacuum below the Jet 26 and in the pipe 24. This causes air in the water closet bowl I! to rush through the water drainage holes 20 in the rim 2| and through the water pipe 22 into the pipe 24 and continue its travel until it is exhausted at the top of the pipe 24, therefore the noxious odored air in the bowl H! has been carried away and the odor is not permitted to be liberated in the room.

In the device shown in Figures 15 and 16, the draft of air is propelled by the fan 28a and the bowl II is ventilated the same as above described.

When the person rises, the spring 48 will push the push rod 44 and head 41 thereon downwardly with enough force that the cross bar 36a and lever arms 36 will be pushed downwardly and the seat 35 will be slightly raised to the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, whereupon the electric circuit has been broken and the motor 28 or 28a will cease to run and the device is now in a condition to repeat the operation above described.

Such modifications of my invention may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and intention oi my invention. Now having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a ventilating device for water closets; the combination oi a water closet having a water conduit around the upper portion of the bowl thereof and having water passages opening from the conduit into the closet bowl, said water closet being provided with a water flush tank and having a flush pipe connecting between said flush tank and the water conduit in said water closet; a vent pipe, the lower end of said vent pipe being connected into said flush pipe, said vent pipe extending upwardly above said flush pipe to a point of discharge; an air jet in said vent pipe intermediate the ends thereof, said jet being so positioned as to receive air from outside the vent pipe and jet said air in an upwardly direction in said vent pipe so as to siphon a draft of air from the bowl of said water closet through said water passages and said conduit and flush pipe into said vent pipe to be discharged at the top or the vent pipe; an air impeller in said jet device and power means for driving said air impeller, and a control device operable by a seat on said water closet for the purpose or controlling said power means as and for the purposes shown and described.

HARRY L. CAROTHERS. 

